For Patients

Capoten (captopril) is a medication that belongs to the drug class angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors. Capoten is available as a generic drug, and is prescribed for treating high blood pressure, heart failure, and for preventing kidney failure due to high blood pressure and diabetes.
Common side effects include a dry, persistent cough, abdominal pain, constipation, diarrhea, rash, dizziness, fatigue, headache, loss of taste, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, numbness in the hands or feet, kidney failure and increased levels of potassium in the blood.

Capoten dose ranges from 25-150 mg two or three times daily. Drug interactions include potassium supplements, salt substitutes, diuretics (eg. Aldactone (spironolactone)], Lithobid (lithium), nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as Motrin (ibuprofen). Capoten should be avoided during pregnancy and in nursing mothers as it may cause adverse effects in the fetus and it is secreted in breast milk.

Our Capoten Side Effects Drug Center provides a comprehensive view of available drug information on the potential side effects when taking this medication.

This is not a complete list of side effects and others may occur. Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

What is Patient Information in Detail?

Easy-to-read and understand detailed drug information and pill images for the patient or caregiver from Cerner Multum.

SIDE EFFECTS: Dizziness, lightheadedness, or loss of taste may occur as your body adjusts to the medication. Dry cough may also occur. If any of these effects persist or worsen, tell your doctor or pharmacist promptly.

Remember that your doctor has prescribed this medication because he or she has judged that the benefit to you is greater than the risk of side effects. Many people using this medication do not have serious side effects.

Tell your doctor right away if any of these unlikely but serious side effects occur: fainting, fast heartbeat, symptoms of a high potassium blood level (such as muscle weakness, slow/irregular heartbeat), signs of infection (such as fever, chills, persistent sore throat), change in the amount of urine, cloudy urine.

This drug may rarely cause serious (possibly fatal) liver problems. Tell your doctor right away if you notice any of the following rare but serious side effects: yellowing eyes/skin, dark urine, severe stomach/abdominal pain, persistent nausea/vomiting.

A very serious allergic reaction to this drug is rare. However, get medical help right away if you notice any of the following symptoms of a serious allergic reaction: rash, itching/swelling (especially of the face/tongue/throat), severe dizziness, trouble breathing.

This is not a complete list of possible side effects. If you notice other effects not listed above, contact your doctor or pharmacist.

In the US -

Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to FDA at 1-800-FDA-1088.

In Canada - Call your doctor for medical advice about side effects. You may report side effects to Health Canada at 1-866-234-2345.

SIDE EFFECTS

Each of the following has been reported in approximately 1
to 2 of 1000 patients and are of uncertain relationship to drug use: renal
insufficiency, renal failure, nephrotic syndrome, polyuria, oliguria, and
urinary frequency.

Dermatologic: Rash, often with pruritus, and
sometimes with fever, arthralgia, and eosinophilia, occurred in about 4 to 7
(depending on renal status and dose) of 100 patients, usually during the first
four weeks of therapy. It is usually maculopapular, and rarely urticarial. The
rash is usually mild and disappears within a few days of dosage reduction,
short-term treatment with an antihistaminic agent, and/or discontinuing
therapy; remission may occur even if captopril is continued. Pruritus, without
rash, occurs in about 2 of 100 patients. Between 7 and 10 percent of patients
with skin rash have shown an eosinophilia and/or positive ANA titers. A
reversible associated pemphigoid-like lesion, and photosensitivity, have also
been reported.

Flushing or pallor has been reported in 2 to 5 of 1000
patients.

Cardiovascular:Hypotension may occur; see WARNINGSand PRECAUTIONS: DRUG INTERACTIONS for discussion of
hypotension with captopril therapy.

Dysgeusia: Approximately 2 to 4 (depending on renal
status and dose) of 100 patients developed a diminution or loss of taste
perception. Taste impairment is reversible and usually self-limited (2 to 3
months) even with continued drug administration. Weight loss may be associated
with the loss of taste.

Angioedema:Angioedema involving the extremities,
face, lips, mucous membranes, tongue, glottis or larynx has been reported in
approximately one in 1000 patients. Angioedema involving the upper airways has
caused fatal airway obstruction. (See WARNINGS: Head and Neck Angioedema,
Intestinal Angioedema and PATIENT INFORMATION.)

Cough: Cough has been reported in 0.5 to 2% of
patients treated with captopril in clinical trials (see PRECAUTIONS: General,
Cough).

The following have been reported in about 0.5 to 2 percent
of patients but did not appear at increased frequency compared to placebo or
other treatments used in controlled trials: gastric irritation, abdominal pain,
nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, anorexia, constipation, aphthous ulcers, peptic
ulcer, dizziness, headache, malaise, fatigue, insomnia, dry mouth, dyspnea,
alopecia, paresthesias.

Other clinical adverse effects reported since the drug was
marketed are listed below by body system. In this setting, an incidence or
causal relationship cannot be accurately determined.

As with other ACE inhibitors, a syndrome has been reported
which may include: fever, myalgia, arthralgia, interstitial nephritis, vasculitis,
rash or other dermatologic manifestations, eosinophilia and an elevated ESR.

BUN/Serum Creatinine: Transient elevations of BUN or
serum creatinine especially in volume or salt depleted patients or those with
renovascular hypertension may occur. Rapid reduction of longstanding or
markedly elevated blood pressure can result in decreases in the glomerular
filtration rate and, in turn, lead to increases in BUN or serum creatinine.